Farm Bureau cookout contest planned

An outdoor cooking contest designed to promote Iowa meat is being planned by the Clarke County Farm Bureau.

Contest chairman Duane Phillips said you don’t have to be an expert chef to participate; you just need to enjoy cooking outdoors with quality Iowa meat.

This is the 51st year for the Iowa Farm Bureau cookout contest and the 16th year for the Clarke County Farm Bureau cookout contest.

Farm Bureau’s cookout contest is open to any Iowa resident ages 13 years or older. Farm Bureau or affiliated company employees are not eligible.

Contestants can compete in one of the following six categories — beef, pork, lamb, poultry, turkey, combo/specialty. Combo is a recipe combining two or more meats from the eligible meat categories. Specialty includes domestically raised meats including venison, goat and fish, excluding wild game.

A cookout champion will be named, and awards will be given to winners in each cooking category. Special recognition will also go to winners of the showmanship, youth and team cooking categories.

The county contest will be held on Saturday, July 19, at the Clarke County Fairgrounds. The county Cookout Champion will receive a trophy and $150. Other category winners will receive a trophy and $25 gift certificate.

The cookout champion, along with all first place category winners and winners of the showmanship, youth and team awards will have the chance to compete in the state finals at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 12.

Anyone interested in entering the Clarke County Farm Bureau cookout contest should contact the county office at 641-342-6066 by July 11.